A GREAT TIME FOR TREES
11 May 2016
Autumn is a great time for trees! Putting on a spectacular show of autumnal colour each season, deciduous trees provide a change of colour and texture that brightens any landscape.
Sitting among the verdant shades of evergreens and the blue/greys of natives is the wonder that is autumnal colouring. Deciduous trees put on a spectacular show at this time of year, most noticeably along avenues and city streets, in botanical gardens and in front yards, embracing the change of seasons.
During the cooler temperatures of a perfect autumn day, against a bright blue sky under a pale yellow sun, deciduous trees are uninhibited in their glory as they turn their best leaf forward in a stunning show for all to see. And they’re on show in the Nursery too!
To celebrate this season of colour, Speciality Trees grows a broad range of semi-advanced deciduous trees in a range of sizes, to accommodate autumn-inspired planting.
The red, orange, yellow and purple colour combinations that decorate autumn foliage come from a group of pigments in the cells of leaves called anthocyanins. During the summer growing season, phosphate is present in high levels, which plays a vital role in the breakdown of the sugars manufactured by chlorophyll. In autumn, phosphate, along with other chemicals and nutrients, move out of the leaf into the stem of the plant. When this happens, the sugar-breakdown process changes, leading to the production of anthocyanin pigments which turn the leaves into the stunning autumnal colours we see each season.
The brighter the light during this period, the greater the production of anthocyanin and the more brilliant the resulting colour display. When autumn days are bright and cool, and the nights are chilly but not freezing, the brightest colorations develop.
Prime considerations right now for autumn planting include Pistacia chinensis, Liriodendron tulipifera, Pyrus calleryana ‘Cleveland Select’ and Lagerstroemia indica x fauriei ‘Tuscarora’. These plants selections fully demonstrate the precious beauty of deciduous trees during this colourful season.
To view Speciality Trees’ leading autumn choices visit www.specialitytrees.com.au
Images (top to bottom): Pistacia chinensis; Lagerstroemia indica x fauriei 'Tuscarora'; Pyrus calleryana 'Cleveland Select'.
